221.620.11
Applying Summary Measures of Population Health to Improve Health Systems

Location
East Baltimore
Term
Summer Institute
Department
International Health
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2025 - 2026
Instruction Method
In-person
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Abdulgafoor Bachani
Andres Vecino-Ortiz
Nukhba Zia
Contact Name
Abdulgafoor Bachani
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Description
Explores the conceptual basis and application of summary measures of population health status. Presents approaches to measuring the burden of disease in populations and their use for guiding resource allocation and planning efficient and equitable health care systems. Focuses lectures, discussions, and group exercises on composite indicators, exploring social and ethical value choices, and assessing the burden of disease at the national level.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Define measures and approaches to assess the burden of disease in populations
  2. Examine social and ethical value choices in calculating summary measures of population health and their implications on population health
  3. Assess approaches to assess the burden of disease at national level and risk factors (metabolic, behavioral and environmental)
  4. Analyze use of summary measures of population health for policy development, resource allocation for programs and interventions, and planning efficient and equitable health care systems
  5. Demonstrate effect of globalization on burden of disease at national and global level
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 10% Participation
  • 20% Quizzes
  • 40% Assignments
  • 30% Final Exam
Enrollment Restriction
Summer Institute participants only.
Instructor Consent
No consent required
Special Comments

Students are required to complete the following readings prior to the start of the course: Hyder AA, Puvanachandra P, Morrow RH. Chapter 1: Measures of Heallth and Disease in Populations.
Merson MH, Black RE, Mills AJ, eds. Global Health: Diseases, Programs, Systems, and Policies. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2012:1-42.

Assignment 2 will be due June 28, 2019